Chapter Text
The throne room of Bowser’s castle rattled with the low roar of the lava moat outside. Flames licked the walls of the chamber, glowing against black stone, and the air smelled faintly of smoke and brimstone. Bowser sat slouched in his massive seat, claws drumming against the armrest.
Around him, the Koopalings squabbled like a pack of rowdy puppies. Wendy filed her nails, Roy flexed for no one in particular, and Iggy babbled about an experiment involving Piranha Plant pollen and roller skates.
“QUIET!” Bowser finally bellowed, the sound shaking chandeliers overhead. “I’ve made a decision.”
The kids stilled instantly, eyes snapping toward him.
Bowser leaned forward, teeth bared in a grin that was half menace, half… something else. “This time, I’m not going after Mario.”
That got their attention. Even Ludwig stopped adjusting his hair.
“Not Mario?” Larry asked, tilting his head. “But isn’t that kind of… your whole thing, Dad?”
Bowser snorted, sending a puff of smoke curling through the air. “Mario’s predictable. He’s tough, sure, but I’ve fought him a hundred times. And he always shows up when that princess is in trouble.” He thumped his chest with one claw. “I don’t need another round with him.”
The Koopalings traded puzzled looks. “Then… who?” Wendy asked.
Bowser’s grin widened. “His brother.”
Silence fell. Then Roy let out a bark of laughter. “Wait—you mean Luigi? The tall, green beanpole?!”
“He’s not even a hero!” Morton added. “He just screams a lot and runs around!”
“Exactly,” Bowser growled. He rose to his full height, towering over them. “He’s not like Mario. He’s softer. Nervous. Easy to fluster. If I take him, Mario won’t know what to do. He’ll be off-balance. And…” His eyes glinted. “…I’m curious what makes him tick.”
The kids’ jaws dropped in unison. Wendy smirked. “Curious, huh? Sounds like somebody’s got a crush.”
Bowser’s face turned the faintest shade of red under his scales. “WHAT?! No! Don’t be ridiculous! This is strategy!”
But the Koopalings exchanged sly grins anyway.
“Uh-huh,” Ludwig said dryly. “Very tactical, Father.”
“Shut it!” Bowser snapped, smoke curling from his nostrils. “Now quit yapping and get to work. Bring Luigi here. Unharmed. Got it?”
“Unharmed?” Larry asked, raising an eyebrow.
“UNHARMED!” Bowser roared. “I want him alive, not a crispy noodle! Now MOVE!”
The kids scrambled out of the throne room, still snickering among themselves. Bowser slumped back down with a groan, rubbing at his temples. “Brats…” he muttered. But his thoughts kept drifting back to Luigi—green hat, nervous eyes, always trailing behind Mario. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth before he quickly scowled it away.
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Back in the Mushroom Kingdom, Luigi was enjoying what had so far been an uneventful day. He had just finished unclogging a particularly stubborn pipe near Toad Town and was now rewarding himself with a nap beneath a shady mushroom tree.
“Finally… some peace and quiet,” he mumbled, pulling his cap down over his eyes. The grass was soft, the breeze was gentle, and for once, nothing was trying to squash, bite, or chase him.
That lasted all of three minutes.
WHOOOOSH!
The ground shook as a flying clown car descended from the sky, scattering Toads in every direction. Luigi bolted upright just in time to see the Koopalings piling out, grins wide, wands flashing.
“Oh no… oh mamma mia no…” Luigi scrambled to his feet, already trembling. “Can’t this wait till Mario’s-a back?!”
“Sorry, Greenie!” Wendy sang, blowing him a kiss. “Orders are orders!”
Luigi barely had time to yelp before Morton lunged forward and scooped him up like a sack of potatoes. “Got him!” Morton bellowed proudly.
“Put me down! Put me—aaah!” Luigi flailed helplessly as they shoved him into the clown car. “This isn’t sanitary! My overalls are clean!”
“Quit wriggling,” Roy snorted, pinning him with one beefy arm. “You’re not going anywhere.”
Luigi kicked his legs, panic bubbling in his chest. “Where are you taking me?! This isn’t-a funny!”
Iggy leaned close, eyes glinting behind his glasses. “Oh, it’s funny, alright. You’ll see!”
The clown car lurched upward, engines whirring as they rose into the clouds. Luigi pressed against the side, heart hammering. The Mushroom Kingdom shrank beneath them—Toad Town, Peach’s castle, the rolling green hills. He thought desperately of Mario, wishing his brother would appear over the horizon, cape fluttering, ready to save him.
But no one came.
The Koopalings laughed and squabbled all the way back to Bowser’s castle, Luigi squished miserably between them. By the time they swooped down into the lava-choked fortress, his cap was crooked, his knees were shaking, and his stomach had twisted into knots.
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The clown car touched down with a clang in the castle courtyard. The Koopalings marched their prize through winding corridors, past snarling statues and gurgling lavafalls, until at last they shoved Luigi into the throne room.
Bowser rose from his seat the moment they entered. His eyes locked onto Luigi, who immediately shrank back, chains of nerves clinking in his head even though he wasn’t cuffed yet.
“Mission accomplished, Pops!” Wendy announced with a flourish. “One trembling Luigi, as requested.”
Roy gave Luigi a little shake for emphasis. “He’s lighter than he looks.”
“Less screaming than expected,” Iggy added thoughtfully. “Though that might change soon.”
Bowser waved them off with a grunt. “Good. Now leave us.”
The Koopalings didn’t budge. Instead, they clustered at the door, whispering and snickering.
“Dad’s blushing,” Larry muttered.
“Shut it!” Bowser roared, smoke curling from his nostrils. “OUT!”
The kids bolted, still giggling, and the doors slammed behind them.
Now it was just Bowser and Luigi.
Luigi swallowed hard. His legs felt like jelly. “S-so… you’ve-a got me. Congratulations.” He tugged at his collar, eyes darting everywhere but Bowser. “Now what?”
Bowser stalked closer, each footstep echoing like thunder. He leaned down, teeth gleaming in the torchlight. “Now… we see what you’re really made of, Greenie.”
Luigi’s heart skipped, fear and something else tangling together in his chest. He wasn’t sure if he should faint, scream, or… keep listening.
For once, he wished Mario were here—not just to save him, but to tell him what on earth was happening.